It's hard to go back to a regular toothbrush after using an electric one. The vibrations can initially feel like they're shaking your skull, but once you get used to them, you end up with a better brushing and cleaning experience.
But electric brushes run the gamut in terms of features and pricing. Affordable models like this one can cost as little as $50 if not less, or you can go all out and get smart brushes with app connectivity, like Oral-B's new iO. I've been using the iO Series 8 ($250), specifically, but there are two other versions: the Series 7 ($200) and the Series 9 ($300), which cut and add a few features, respectively.
Yes, the differences between a $250 electric brush and a $50 one are vast, but my experience with the Oral-B iO suggests the massive jump in price isn't quite justifiable yet.
Why would you want to connect your toothbrush to an app? Well, the main draw is it can tell you where you're not brushing thoroughly. You might think you're reaching everywhere, but you could constantly be missing the back of some teeth, as my dentist kindly told me a few years ago. This can cause plaque buildup or even lead the cavity goon right to you.
Unfortunately, the iO suffers from the same issues as other app-connected electric toothbrushes I've tried: It doesn't always accurately detect where I'm brushing. The sides of the mouth are the hardest locations to track, and the app often marks these spots as not brushed at all or not brushed enough, despite my obvious efforts of focusing on these areas.
The whole experience also wants you to stare at your phone's screen during the brushing session, which is not necessarily something I want to do in my morning routine. Following along in the app, you get a timer and a real-time look at the areas you haven't brushed yet. Once you're done, the app asks if you've brushed your tongue and flossed, which is a nice nudge to do those things for better tooth health.
I can see the app being handy for kids to get used to the routine of brushing teeth well, making sure they're not rushing through it or missing specific areas. But for me, having to grab my phone from the nightstand and open the app every time I brushed lost its appeal quickly. Not-so-effective tracking doesn't help either. Of course, you don't need to use the app for the electric brush to work, but then you probably shouldn't spend several hundred dollars on this model.